Knives

Abstract

A knife ( 10 ) having a body ( 16 ) with a handle ( 14 ) and a blade ( 12 ), the blade having two sides ( 22 ), an upper edge ( 18 ) and a sharp lower edge ( 20 ) for cutting, the body having an upper side which includes at least two indentations ( 42, 48 ) which are spaced apart from one another, wherein at least one of the indentations is formed in the upper edge of the blade.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A knife having a handle and a blade, the blade having a handle abutment portion and a main body portion having two sides, an upper edge and a sharp lower edge for cutting, wherein the blade includes at least two indentations which are spaced apart from one another, wherein at least one of the indentations is formed in the upper edge of the blade and at least one other of the indentations is formed in a top portion of the handle abutment portion adjacent to a forward region of the handle for engagement by a thumb or finger of a hand of a user gripping the handle, wherein the indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade has a radius larger than a radius of said at least one other indentation, for engagement by at least two fingers of the other hand of the user, and wherein an upper side of the handle has a portion adjacent to the handle abutment portion of the blade, and wherein the upper side of the handle is aligned to be level with the upper edge of the blade, when viewed sideways from a left side towards a right side of the knife. 
     
     
       2. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which the indentation located adjacent to the forward region of the handle, when viewed sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife, has a cross-section which is curved and concave. 
     
     
       3. The knife as claimed in  claim 2  in which the cross-section has a portion which is circular, with a radius from 1 cm to 2 cm for engagement by the thumb or the finger of the hand gripping the handle. 
     
     
       4. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which each of the two sides of the blade includes a flat main portion;
 in which the flat main portions of the two sides are arranged tapering towards each other in a downward direction towards the sharp lower edge; 
 in which the upper edge and the sharp lower edge of the knife meet at a point. 
 
     
     
       5. The knife as claimed in  claim 4  in which the at least one indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade is located nearer the point than where the flat main portions end near the handle. 
     
     
       6. A knife as claimed in  claim 4  in which the curvature of the sharp lower edge of the blade is greater below the indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade than the curvature of the sharp lower edge at a point nearer the handle. 
     
     
       7. The knife as claimed in  claim 4  in which the indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade, when viewed sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife, has a cross-section which is curved and concave. 
     
     
       8. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which a length of the indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade along a length of the upper edge is more than 2 cm. 
     
     
       9. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which the upper edge of the blade has a distinct width and is blunt at least in the region of the indentation formed therein. 
     
     
       10. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which the blade has a first end forming a point of the blade and a second end which is adjacent to the handle;
 in which the at least one indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade is located nearer the first end of the blade than the second end of the blade. 
 
     
     
       11. The knife as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the upper edge of the blade has a first portion extending from the first end of the blade to said at least one indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade and a second portion which is straight when viewed in a direction sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife and extends from the second end of the blade to said at least one indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade. 
     
     
       12. The knife as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the second portion of the straight upper edge of the blade extends over at least or more than half of the length of the upper edge of the blade. 
     
     
       13. The knife as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the first and second portions of the straight upper edge of the blade are aligned to be level and parallel with each other, when viewed sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife. 
     
     
       14. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which the upper edge of the blade, when viewed sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife, is straight except for said at least one indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade. 
     
     
       15. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which the lower edge of the blade tapers upwards to meet the upper edge of the blade at a point. 
     
     
       16. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which an upper edge of the at least one indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade is unitary with and fabricated from the same material as the blade, and is configured for direct contact with said other hand of the user. 
     
     
       17. The knife as claimed in  claim 1 , in which in a cross-section across the knife perpendicular to its longitudinal direction and through sideways across the knife, the indentation located adjacent to the forward region of the handle is concave, or slightly convex, or flat. 
     
     
       18. A knife as claimed in  claim 17 , in which in said cross-section, the at least one indentation located adjacent to the forward region of the handle has a distinct curvature or shape which is different from portions of the handle on either side thereof;
 and in which the at least one indentation located adjacent to the forward region of the handle encompasses only a partial segment of the perimeter of said cross-section. 
 
     
     
       19. The knife as claimed in  claim 1  in which the sharp lower edge of the blade has a rear end portion, an imaginary line of extension of which, in a rearward direction away from a point of the knife, extends below the handle. 
     
     
       20. A knife having a body with a blade, the blade having a handle abutment portion and a main body portion having two sides, an upper edge and a sharp lower edge for cutting, wherein the upper edge of the blade includes at least a first indentation, wherein each of the two sides of the main body portion of the blade includes a flat main portion, the upper edge and the sharp lower edge of the knife meet at a point, and the first indentation is nearer the point than a rear end of each flat main portion, wherein a second indentation is formed in a top surface of the handle abutment portion, and a radius of the second indentation is smaller than a radius of the first indention, and wherein the knife further comprises a handle, wherein an upper side of the handle has a portion adjacent to the handle abutment portion of the blade which is aligned to be level with the upper edge of the blade, when viewed sideways from a left side towards a right side of the knife. 
     
     
       21. The knife as claimed in  claim 20  in which the upper edge of the blade, when viewed sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife, is substantially straight except for said first indentation, which is formed in the upper edge of the blade. 
     
     
       22. A knife as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the upper edge of the blade has a first portion extending from the point of the blade to said first indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade, and a second portion which is straight when viewed in a direction sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife and extends from one end of the blade to said first indentation formed in the upper edge of the blade. 
     
     
       23. The knife as claimed in  claim 22 , in which the second portion of the upper edge of the blade extends over at least or more than half of the length of the upper edge of the blade. 
     
     
       24. A knife as claimed in  claim 22  in which the first and second portions of the substantially straight upper edge of the blade are aligned to be level and parallel with each other, when viewed sideways from the left side towards the right side of the knife.